Hydrant



Jan. 23, 1934. F, R, BANKS 1,944,777

HYDRNT Filed Dec. 23, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l if Il 'i ZZ F. R. BANKS Jan. 23, 1934.

HYDRANT A 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dep. 25, 1951 INVENTOR. F E E@ Patented Jan. 23,l 1934 Unirse STATES' 1,944,771 mam Frederick R. Banks, Elmira, N. Y., assigner to The Kennedy Valve Mfg. Co., Elmira, N. Y.

Application December 23, 1931 Serial No. 582,777

Claims.

My invention relates to hydrants and particularly to that type used in connection with iire ghting apparatus and by means of which water is supplied under pressure. This general 5 type of hydrant is well miown and used extensively in cities and towns and is afamiliar sight on street corners and other places of advantage.

As is well known, a considerable portion of the hydrant with its outer casing extends above the ground, sidewalk, or other supporting surface, to afford maximum convenience to the reinan when the occasion arises to use it.

`With the ever increasing amount of motor vehicle trafc, the bumping into these hydrants and breaking them off, has increased to the point Where the expense to cities and towns amounts to an enormous yearly expenditure.

Furthermore, with the ordinary type -of hydrant, the knocking it over and breaking it, involves usually anextended delay in replacing it with a new one inasmuch as the heavy bro-4v ken casings must be removed and often excavations must be made around the same in order to reach the underground connections by means of which the hydrant is secured in position. This not only contributes to the expense but eliminates the safety factor of the hydrant during such delayed replacement.

One factor which contributes largely to the expense and delay in replacing a broken hydrant is that the ordinary valve stem which extends through the hydrant casing from the topvalve controlling portion thereof downwardly tothe r valve communicating with the water main is almost invariably badly-bentl at the time of the impact which breaks the casing and knocks it over. Either this-valve stem must be straightened, which is a difficult taskas these stems are usually heavy rigid metal stock, or the stem must be removed entirely and a new one put in its place. This may involve removing also the control valve and in order to do that, of

course, the water in the communicating main also without water during the period required to repair the present ordinary hydrant.

By my invention I have provided a means, forming the principal object of this invention, whereby the breaking oi or knocking down of a hydrant results in very little expense for replacement and which may be replaced in but a very few moments time both as regards the valve stem and the hydrant casing.

One important object of my invention lies in the provision of a sectional valve stern provided with frangible means for holding the sections together and in proper alignment for normal operation.

Another object of my invention lies in the provision of such a valve stem arrangement in combination with a frangible retaining means for the upper section of the hydrant casing and its adjacent lower portion, such frangible connectinguv-irbeing disposed in substantial alignment with the frangible connecting means for the sectional valve stem.

Another object ci invention lies in the provision 'of a particular form of irangible sleeve or connectingr means for the adjacent ends of valve stem sections.

Still another object lies in the provision of parts of the connection described which are simple in construction, easily and quickly assembled and economical to ufacture.

Other objects and advantages in details of construction and arrangement of parts will be apparent as the description proceeds, reference now being had to the ngures oi the accompanying` drawings forming a part of this application and wherein like reference numerals indicate like parts.

In the dra: 1'

Figure 1 is a partial cross sectional view illustrating my inventionl in `assembled condition.

Figure 2 is a. detail cross sectional view illustrating the frangibl'- means for connecting the sectional valve steun-certain parts being broken away for clearness'bfillustration.

Figure 3 is a detail plan view of the frangible securing means for the hydrant casing.

Figure1 45 isa detail side view thereof, a portion being broken away forcleamess.

Figure 5 is a pictorial illustration made from an actual photograph and showingclearly the 105 operation of my invention. l v

The reference character 1 refers to a yconnection for a water-main or other sourceof supply for the water under pressure. This connection casing 1 is provided with a vertically disposedportion 2 flanged or-otherwlse fastened as at 3. A threaded ring 4 provides a valve seat for a control valve 5 and by means of which the water may be normally prevented from passing upwardly through the seat 4 or admitted therethrough.

6 indicates generally the ground, pavement, sidewalk or other surface in which these parts are disposed and 7 refers to a hollow cylindrical casing or spool section flanged at its lower edge as at 8 for rigid fastening, as by means of the bolts 9, `to the anges 3 ofthe connecting member 1. A suitable gasket 10 may be provided be- .tween the adjacent flanges 3 and 8 to prevent leakage.

The upper end of the section 7 extends slightly above the 'supporting surface 6. Itvwill be obvious, of course, that the length or height of the section 7 depends upon the depth beneath the surface 6 at which the connection member 1 is located a'nd this, of course, varies according to the grade and other working conditions met with in installing these hydrants.

The upper projecting end of the lcasing-7 is threaded exteriorly as at 11 for a purpose to be described.

Adapted to rest upon and be supported by the upper end of the section 7, is the familiar hydrant section 12 projecting above the surface 6 and provided, of course, adjacent its upper end with the capped outlets 13 for the usual hose attachment, and the cover or cap 14.

The lower end of the hydrant section 12 is threaded as at 15 and disposed between the meeting ends of the sections 7 and 12 is a suitable gasket 16 for preventing leakage past such joined ends.

In order that the section 12 maybe held se- A curely and rigidly in position on the upper end 40 of the section 7. there is provided a ring 17 threaded interiorly for ready universal rotational threading engagement with the threaded adjacent ends of such sections. The ring 17 is provided around its outer peripheral surface with preferably formed driving lugs 18 by means of Vwhich the ring may be readily rotated with a small sledgehammer or otherwise, to screw the same into or out of engagement with the threaded adjacent edges of the sections 7 and 12. It will be obvious that when the ring 17 is screwed into full and tight engagement with these adjacent section ends, such sections will be supported and rigidly maintained in longitudinal alignment. y

The inner surface of the ring 17, at a point betweenthe threaded portions thereof, is provided with a circumferential groove 19 which is designed to materially weaken the ring at such point. Thus `the ring. 17 is rendered locally frangible in substantial alignment with the engaging ends of the sections 7 and 12. Obviously therefore, if the projecting upper section 7 of the hydrant is struck with a blow sufllcient to knock it over, the retaining ring 17 breaks at its weakened central point and the upper section 12 falls away from the lower section 7 without damage thereto. Thus the very expensive upper section 12 with its outiets, valve control, etc. is uninjured.

This particular feature of the invention, namely, the frangible ring 17, is covered per se in my copending application Serial No. 494,418, led November 8, 1930.

suitably connected tothe valve 5 and extendupwardly through the section 7 is a valvestem section 20 terminating at its upper end in substantial alignment with the adjacent ends of the sections 7 and l2. A second valve stem section 21 extends from the upper end of the stem section 20 upwardlyA through the section 12 of the hydrant to the upper end thereof and is provided with the projecting turning member 22 extending through the cap 14 of the hydrant casing, whereby said section 22 may be turned by a suitable wrench or tool. I

Surrounding and embracing the adjacent ends of the stem sections 20 and 21, is a sleeve 23 which is of a length to extend for a substantial distance along said sections 20 and 2l above and below and adjacent their engaging ends, as shown clearly in Figure 2.

Suitable openings 24 are provided through the stem sections 20 and 21 adjacent their engaging ends and suitable openings 25 are provided through the sleeve 23 for alignment with such openings 24. The openings 25 in the sleeve 23 are threaded as at 2 6 on one side of the sleeve to receive the threaded ends 27 of pins 28, by means of which the sleeve 23 is rigidly but removably secured to the adjacent ends of the valve stem sections 20 and 21 and also by means of which such sections 20 and 21 are secured together for common movement. Obviously' therefore, movement of the section 2l by the member 22 results in movement of the section 20 whereby upon such movement the valve 5v may be opened or closed as desired.

The sleeve 23 is provided around its outer periphery at a point in substantial alignment with the adjacent ends of the sections 20 and 21, with 110 a circumferential recess or groove 29. This obviously weakens the sleeve at such point andrenders it frangible if strain, such as would result from a destructive blow, is placed thereon.

From the foregoing it will be clear that if the upper section 12 of the hydrant is struck and knocked over as before described, not only will the frangible ring 17 break, thussaving the hy-I drant section 12 from being broken, but as the same is knocked over or stress applied to the valve stem section 21 passing therethrough, the frangible sleeve 23 will also break easily at the weakened portion 29 in substantial alignment f' with the adjacent ends of the sections 12 and 7.

thus preventing the bending of the valve stem and possible damage to the valve 5.`

Figure 5 yillustrates what happens when such a break occurs. The valve 5 being oi' the com-- pression type remains tightly seated due to the pressure behind it.

To replace the hydrant and put it into operative condition again, it is necessary only to remove the broken ring 17 by unscrewing the same from the parts, remove the pins 28 from the sleeve 23 of the valve stem sections 20 and 21, 135 slide the broken portions of the sleeve 23 oil the adjacent ends of the valve stem sections, place a new sleeve in position and secure it by the pins 28, and replace the section 12 again in position on the section 7 with a new ring 17 to hold 14g' is insured in the event of accident and the likevlihood of the valve stems or hydrant casings becoming damaged has been proven to be entirely eliminated.

Of course, changes may be made in details of construction and operation Without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention; I do not limit myself, therefore, to the exact form herein shown and described other than by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A valve stem or the like comprising two rods positioned end to end in abutting relation, said rods being rigidly joined together at their abutting ends by a frangible coupling encircling and embracing said abutting ends.

2. A valve stem or the like comprising two rods positioned end to end in abutting relation,

said rods being rigidly joined together at their abutting ends by a frangible coupling, said coupling comprising a sleeve embracing said ends in overlapping relation and having a reduced portion in substantial alignment with said ends.

3. A valve stem or the like comprising two rods positioned end to end in abutting relation, said rods being rigidly joined together at their abutting ends by a frangible coupling, said couor the like, said sleeve having an annular groove circumferentially thereof to render it frangible, and said sleeve having means for fastening to rods or the like engaged thereby.

FREDERICK R. BANKS. 

